USMLE Step 1 Tutoring – Five Steps to Score High

Before you are qualified for residency, you must first take and pass the USMLE Step 1 exam. Your knowledge and your critical thinking skills from your previous years in medical school play a critical role in your chances of passing this exam, but the eight-hour ordeal itself can be mentally and physically exhausting and daunting that could make you lose your focus and patience. Because of that, it makes sense to prepare properly and consider working with a USMLE Step 1 tutor for further training.

A good tutor is a medical doctor who has years of experience in teaching medical students and a good track record in helping his students pass. Once you have one, take note of these tips to ace the preparation period and the exam:

Set goals – Have realistic objectives every USMLE Step 1 tutoring session, so you can have an organized way of addressing the subjects that are challenging to you. Moreover, they will help you manage your time wisely and you do not have to feel overwhelmed with all the information you will encounter in a day.

Prioritize the high-yield topics – Seasoned tutors will provide high yield notes, which covers almost everything. This way, you do not have to read a lot of books.

Take breaks – A tired and overwhelmed mind will be unable to process new information, so do not hesitate to take a 10-minute break for every one hour of USMLE preparation to recharge your mind and relax. Just avoid going into social media, texting or checking your emails to prevent any distractions. Go outside, breathe in some fresh air, or have a quick energizing snack.

Set realistic expectations – The USMLE Step 1 tutor will guide you and help you study and prepare better for the exam but having one does not mean that you will earn a perfect score. So, be realistic and do not be so hard on yourself.

Take practice tests – Good USMLE Step 1 tutoring will include regular assessment, typically at the end of every chapter. It is an important aspect of USMLE preparation to measure your knowledge and capability of passing the exam, and it gives you a feel of how the actual exam will go.